It’s normal to see variation in your marks during your degree. If you’ve failed an assessment or module, this does not define your ability or future success. Many students experience this at some point.
Support is available to help you understand what this means and what to do next.
What might happen if I fail an assessment?
Failing an assessment doesn’t always mean you will fail the module.
- You may still pass the module if you get a high enough mark in the other assessments.
- If you pass the module overall, you will not usually need to retake the assessment you failed. CEDAR students and other courses with clinical competency or PSRB requirements would need to pass every assessment to pass the module.
If the failed assessment mark means that you fail the module overall, see the next section.
What might happen if I fail a module?
If you fail one or more modules, the Exam Board will review your full set of marks and decide the next steps.
Possible outcomes include:
- Condonement - You may be allowed to progress to the next year without retaking the module, depending on specific criteria.
- Referral (resit assessment) - If condonement isn’t an option, you would normally be offered a second attempt at the assessments you have failed on the module. The module mark would be capped at the pass mark (40% for Undergraduates, 50% for Postgraduates). Resits typically take place in the summer referral period. Learn more about referred assessments
- Referral in a Resit Without Attendance (RWA) year - When the next available assessment opportunity would be in the following academic year, you may be offered to resit without attendance (known as an RWA year). This means:
- your progression to the next stage of study is paused while you finish your referred assessments.
- you would not attend any lectures, and no tuition fees are charged. You would not be entitled to Student Loans Company funding.
- you would complete any outstanding assessments and may need to attend in-person exams.
- your record would then be reviewed by the next Exam Board to see if progression is now possible.
- Learn more about RWA
- Repeat study- A full or partial repeat year is sometimes permitted in exceptional circumstances either through the mitigation committee or the Exam Board. Repeat study incurs additional tuition fees as you would be attending teaching again. Any repeat study requests through mitigation are recommended to be discussed with your Pastoral Mentor or Education Welfare Advisor.
More detail on the consequences of failure can be found in Chapter 11 of the Teaching Quality Assurance (TQA).
When will I know what my options are?
Undergraduate students
- Exam Boards usually meet in early June
- Results are typically released in mid-June
- Your results will confirm whether you can progress or need to take further action
Postgraduate taught students
- Results are reviewed after final submission
- Usually October (September starters)
- Or February (January starters)
- Some courses offer earlier in-year resits. You will be contacted if this applies to you
If you have questions, contact your Hub/Info Point after receiving your results.
Supporting you
We know that it can be tough to get a mark you weren’t expecting and it’s normal to experience a mix of disappointment, frustration, or uncertainty.
Please remember there is support available for you within the University.
- Pastoral Mentors – the first point of contact if you are facing challenges that impact your ability to study.
- Wellbeing Services – support for mental health and personal wellbeing.
- Study Skills advisers – help with study skills, workshops and resources.
- Students’ Guild (Exeter) and Students’ Union (Cornwall) – free, confidential and impartial advice.
- Chaplaincy teams in Exeter and Cornwall – here to listen, whether you have a faith or not.